I
moved slowly through the ruins trying to assess the damage. I felt bewildered
and tried to through myself into my work. Suddenly I hear screams from
outside the gates of Jantar Mantar, I run to the sound and spot a woman
being hauled onto a police bus. She is screaming uncontrollably as the
bus drives away.

Every time I raised my camera and aimed
it at the Indian police they turned their head away. I had never had any
experience dealing with the Indian police but later learned they are very
media savvy.They had performed a partial raid the
night before, confiscating half of the protesters around midnight. The
wire-services, Reuters and several expatriate type photojournalists held
a vigil to see if the police would return. The "pack" began to disperse
around 11 pm. The Reuters guy left around 1 am. I stayed awake all
night until dawn. When the camp began to awaken, I believed the protesters
were safe for another day and returned to my hotel room to rest. Thatís
when the police moved in.

I
later asked Norbu, if he or anyone knew of Nogdupís suicide plan. Norbu
denied any prior-knowledge and I believe him. The remaining hunger strikers
were dragged off and taken to the same hospital where Thupten Nogdup lay
dying. Doctors connected the protesters to needles and fed them intravenously,
saving their lives -- but against their will. The conditions in the
public hospital were filthy!

Squat toilets were backed up with raw
sewage. Mildew colonies were several inches thick on the corner of the
floors. The only way a patient would receive help is if he had relatives
or friends present. The hospital was hopelessly understaffed. Dawa Gyalpo
went to the bathroom in the same room where fresh human feces floated on
the floor. His son and supporters helped him back to his bed.

By now numb, I hired a driver and went
to the New Delhi Associated Press bureau, processed my film and transmitted
some pictures back to the San Jose Mercury News. That is where an
AP photographer told me about how sneaky the Indian police were when it
came to the press. Several days earlier, an officer from the Delhi police
promised President Norbu the protesters would be allowed to stay several
more days than what actually took place. It was obvious the officials had
no intention of letting the protest go beyond the day the Chinese diplomat
was to arrive.